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Another culprit in the current housing dilemma … those DIY television shows.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

Another culprit in the current housing dilemma … those DIY television shows.As one who has visited thousands of foreclosed homes, I can say with some authority that many of them suffer from a bad case of DIY Syndrome.

The proliferation of home improvement cable channels and the resulting bombardment of “how-to” shows have created a culture of substandard repairs and functionally obsolete upgrades.

Which led me to this somewhat obvious but rarely mentioned conclusion:

Just because you CAN do it yourself doesn’t mean that you should.

Many jobs are best left to professionals that understand building codes and will do the work properly. It is also absolutely essential that all of the proper permits are secured before work commences.

When a buyer sees a poorly completed “improvement,” the only words that come to mind are “more work.” There is only negative value in any job that is has not been performed in a “workmanlike” manner.

As far as those TV shows that depict homeowners making tens of thousands of dollars with a few thousand invested and a weekend of work … it’s not going to happen in these parts!

I have a sneaking suspicion that in many of these homes, if the work had been done right in the first place, they may have sold prior to foreclosure.

The homeowners would have been better off, the local real estate market would have been better off, and the foreclosure attorneys would have lost a lot of work!

Comments (92)

Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

@Kimo...

Here's the problem ... on TV a masonry fireplace is painted "overnight." Painting masonry is a slow and tedious process, requiring at least one coat of primer and two finish coats.

The recommended dry time is usually 24 hours for primer, at least 12 hours for finish coats.

And faster and the paint will not bond.

And then you have a mess.

Sep 23, 2011 04:48 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

I think they're fun to watch, but I have enough sense to know what I can and cannot do.  I think most people in my market area are equally savvy.

Sep 23, 2011 04:58 AM
Jim McCormack
Nashville Short Sale Specialist - Jim McCormack - Edge Advantage Realty, LLC - 615-796-6898 - Murfreesboro, TN
Nashville Short Sale REALTOR - Stop Foreclosure

I agree.  I have seen far more DIY home "improvements" that actually de-value the home than improve it.  It is always easier to just fix something the right way than to undo a terrible repair or improvement and then fix the problem the right way.

Sep 23, 2011 05:04 AM
Liz Johnson
Keller Williams Realty East Valley - Chandler, AZ
Realtor Selling AZ Homes ~ Chandler, Tempe, Marico

Seriously!  And whose idea was it to paint houses a million crazy colors?!  I was beginning to think paint color choices and diy tile projects somehow correlated to the chances of foreclosure.

Sep 23, 2011 05:47 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

And in typical TV-Land fashion . . . all those DIY projects get done in the 30 minute / 60 minute time slot!  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Sep 23, 2011 06:05 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Richard, I can't tell you home many flips I have been in where it just screams of "coverup"!  And buyers can spot it also

Sep 23, 2011 06:46 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Richard, those shows drice me crazy. End of story.

Sep 23, 2011 06:47 AM
Sandy Acevedo
951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA
RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

Another thing not taken into consideration is that those shows have a huge budget, and have the tools (very expensive ones) that make the job look very easy. When you account for those expensive tools the DIY jobs that they do are not that cheap.

Sep 23, 2011 07:14 AM
Ken Anderson
Apex Results Realty Inc., Brokerage - Burlington, ON
Broker in Burlington, Ontario

 I know what I know, I know what I don't know, I also don't know what I don't know.  Unless it falls into the first category, I find a pro.  Some things I don't mind trying, like plumbing, my dad taught me a lot of tricks to use when repairing or installing some types of plumbing.  But I don't know the codes and the proper ratios of run-rise for drains etc. so when it comes to that kind of stuff, my friendly plumber is needed.  I tried drywalling once or twice.  I don't like it, I'm not good at it, and it always looks like it.  What took me three weeks to install had to come down.  Drywall was mostly wasted.  Drywall guy came, re-did it in one afternoon, taped the next day in 2 hours, ready for paint.  I won't be trying that again.

My friend watches all the tv reno shows.  I tell her to get real.  She knows better but is addicted.  What can I do?  Is there a 'Dear Abby' out there for beleaguered agents whose friends/relatives/clients insist on watching this pap?

Sep 23, 2011 10:51 AM
Sylvie Stuart
Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ
Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

Amen, amen, amen!!! Well put and I completely agree with you. I get the homeowner's situation, wanting to save some money, but usually they are overstepping a buck to save a nickle. It's definitely a big issue here too, and lots of 90% finished projects to boot

Sep 23, 2011 01:48 PM
Steven Pahl
Keller Williams Tampa Properties - Tampa, FL
Real Estate Consultant Tampa, FL 813-319-6423

Time is valuable, everytime I attempt a DIY project it usually takes 3 -4 time longer than a professional and I could have been doing something else much more productive with my time.

Sep 23, 2011 04:18 PM
Lisa Wetzel
RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Carson City, NV
CDPE, SFR carsonvalleyland.com

Richard ... we are seeing this over and over in our REO!  I'm so glad tht you posted this. 

The big boxes promote their "Weekend Improvement Projects" and we end up with "Foreclosed" or "Short Sale Homes"  that suffer from a whole variety of Decorating and Personalization dilemmas!  Faux Painting in horrendous colors, laminate flooring the doesn't fit and isn't right, tile, fixtures, etc.  Sometimes they are OK but many times the workmanship is not good.

 

Sep 24, 2011 02:23 AM
Carrie Sampron
Home Smart Realty Group - Highlands Ranch, CO
ABR SFR & Kathy Sampron (303) 931-3629 Highlands R

Richard: I love this blog. I can't even recount all of the homes we've walked into and noted the poor "repair" jobs homeowners have tried to make themselves. We have a listing presentation with a client tomorrow and after seeing the townhome we have many, many recommendations for improvements. We're also bringing along a list of individuals we trust to get the jobs done. Hopefully they'll take that list and run and not try and do it all themselves. Thanks for your thoughts. Carrie

Sep 24, 2011 05:08 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

When I married my first wife she went away for the weekend and I painted the bathrooms.  When she got home she looked at it and said - Next time we will hire someone.

Dating wife # 2 and she comes by the house and asks who painted the kids bedrooms.  I tell her I did - She tells me I should hire someone.  

I know longer paint.

Sep 24, 2011 02:10 PM
Beverly Femia
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Hampstead, NC
Broker Realtor Stager - Greater Wilmington, NC Are

Not every "professional" is a craftsman and there were plenty of poorly done DIY projects before HGTV.  I actually think the shows are much more positive than negative.   Now, there was that one time when they were painting the counters on an HGTV show and I was shaking my head... 

Sep 24, 2011 03:00 PM
Coleen DeGroff
Coldwell Banker M.M. Parrish Realtors - Gainesville, FL
Haile Plantation Real Estate - Gainesville FL
Richard, It seems to be human nature that we look for the easiest/cheapest way out. Everybody wants something for nothing. The cheesy fixes that homeowners undertake as a way to save money actually end up costing them in the long run. With all of the houses on the market, the buyer is almost always going to pick the nicest one they can afford. Home renovations done by professionals outshine home renovations done by weekend warriors. The money that homeowners think they're saving often translates into more money out of pocket in the form of carrying costs and longer time on the market. Like you said - just because you can do something yourself doesn't mean you should.
Sep 26, 2011 06:52 AM
Amy Shair
Cary Apex Durham NC Referrals - eXp Realty - Duke University, NC
Award-Winning Agent 25+ Years
Homeowners should recognize that those cut aways when the folks on tv are sanding or painting means it took HOURS more time to finish or wait for drying overnight. Nothing is much of a weekend project because people aren't that handy and they are poor estimators of how long the project will actually take to complete.
Sep 28, 2011 06:01 AM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

I don't like to do much of anything myself, LOL.  Just kidding.  Just because we can do property management ourselves doesn't mean we should.  Or repairs.  Or all kinds of other things..we find a lot of things the previous owners of our home did themselves and we have to pay additional and backrack to fix it...-Kasey

Oct 02, 2011 04:28 PM
Kerry Jenkins
Prime Properties - Crestline, CA

Yes I call it HGTV syndrome. They fix up their home themselves, usually taking money out of their house to do it, and then lose the home.  Then on the FC market, the improvements are eyesores to those looking at the home. They should have just left well enough alone if they couldn't complete it!

Oct 11, 2011 07:13 AM
Matt Robinson
Professional Investors Guild - Pensacola, FL
www.professionalinvestorsguild.com

Richard, I agree with you wholeheartedly that the DIY shows have created a culture where anyone thinks they can make a fortune fixing and flipping real estate.  I am an active investor and rehabber, and have dozens of rehabs under my belt, and yet I still approach each one with a great deal of trepidation.  There is a lot of money to be made, but just as much to be lost if you don't know what you are doing.

However, I disagree that it can't happen in your area, because I know plenty of people in all types of areas that make money flipping real estate...because there are motivated sellers in every area that are willing to sell property cheaply to get a quick sale.  The buyer can in turn fix up and re-sell for a significant profit, regardless of the median sale price in a certain area. 

The best (and most realistic) show on rehabbing was Spike's recent show called "Flip Men".  They actually factored in things like "real estate commission" and "holding costs" into the "PROFIT" that was talked about at the end of the show, and they even showed some homes in which the flippers LOST money...which happens every once in a while, especially when you buy courthouse auction homes like they did.

Mar 05, 2012 02:14 AM